Customizable container cover

ABSTRACT

A customizable container cover device including a first housing shell, a second housing shell, a retention and a retention grid. The first housing shell may include a first ring carve out along its top surface, a plurality of apertures positioned along the edge of the first housing shell, and a first grid portion integrated into a bottom surface of the first housing shell. The second housing shell may include a second ring carve out along its top surface, a plurality of mating tabs attached to an internal surface of the second housing shell and a second grip portion integrated into a bottom surface of the second housing shell. The retention ring may include a first portion configured for insertion in the first ring carve out and a second portion configured for insertion in the second ring carve out. The retention grid may include a first grid portion integrated in a bottom surface of the first housing shell and a second grid portion integrated in a bottom surface of the second housing shell.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a container cover, and more particularly to a customizable container cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverage containers may be sold at different venues and may be transported to and from various places. The containers may be sensitive to temperature. In this aspect, it would be desirable to use a container cover to manage temperature sensitivities of a beverage container. Moreover, the beverage container covers may be adorned with décor, logos, advertisement images, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawing(s), in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary front perspective view of a customizable container cover device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary sectional exploded view of the customizable container cover device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary sectional view of the customizable container cover device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary sectional view of the customizable container cover device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary top plan view of the customizable container cover device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary right side view of the customizable container cover device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary left side view of the customizable container cover device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein describe a customizable container cover device including a first housing shell, a second housing shell, a retention ring, a retention grid and a plurality of interlocks. The first housing shell may include a first ring carve out along its top surface, a plurality of apertures positioned along the edge of the first housing shell, and a first grid portion integrated into a bottom surface of the first housing shell. The second housing shell may include a second ring carve out along its top surface, a plurality of mating tabs attached to an internal surface of the second housing shell and a second grid portion integrated into a bottom surface of the second housing shell. The retention ring may include a first portion configured for insertion in the first ring carve out and a second portion configured for insertion in the second ring carve out. The retention grid may include a first grid portion integrated in a bottom surface of the first housing shell and a second grid portion integrated in a bottom surface of the second housing shell. Each interlock may be form by interconnecting a mating tab with a corresponding aperture positioned along the edge of the first housing shell.

In some exemplary embodiments, the container cover may be formed by interconnecting the plurality of mating tabs on the second housing shell with the plurality of apertures on an internal surface of the first housing shell.

In some exemplary embodiments, the container cover is configured to receive and retain an enclosed container between the retention ring and the retention grid.

In some exemplary embodiments, the retention ring is configured to secure a top region of an enclosed container in the container cover.

In some exemplary embodiments, the retention grid is configured to secure a bottom region of an enclosed container in the container cover.

In some exemplary embodiments, each first and second grid portion includes a plurality of plurality of slots, and each slot includes an anchor guard.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first housing shell and the second housing shell forming the container cover may be interchanged with a different first housing shell and second housing shell.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first housing shell and the second housing shell forming the container cover may be interchanged with a different first housing shell or second housing shell.

In some exemplary embodiments, one end of each of the plurality of mating tabs extends pass the edge of the second housing shell.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first housing shell and the second housing shell may be separated from one another by disconnecting the plurality of interlocks.

In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of interlocks may be disconnected by applying pressure to one or more of the interlocks.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first and second housing shells each include a hollow enclosure.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first and second housing shells are spherical shaped shells.

In some exemplary embodiments, an external surface of the first housing shell includes ornamentation.

In some exemplary embodiments, the external surface of the second housing shell includes ornamentation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes a customized container cover which is configured to cover a container, such as, for example, a beverage container (e.g., water bottle, soda can, tea bottle, etc.). The container cover may be implemented of various materials which help manage temperature sensitivities of the container. Moreover, the container cover may be customized to a particular shape, and with various surface ornamentation included on the external surface of the cover. The container cover may be assembled by attaching a first housing shell and a second housing shell. The first housing shell and the second housing may be interchanged with other housing shells. The container cover may be disassembled and reassembled with a different first housing shell and/or second housing shell. Each first and second housing shell may have a same shape, color, décor, size, and surface ornamentation as one another. Moreover, each first and second housing shell may have a different shape, color, décor, size, and surface ornamentation from one another.

Turning to FIGS. 1-4 , a container cover device (“the device”) 10 may include a first housing shell 12 a, a second housing shell 12 b, a retention ring 14 (i.e., 14 a, 14 b) and a retention grid 16 (i.e., 16 a, 16 b). The first housing shell 12 a may include a first ring carve out 15 a along its top surface, a plurality of apertures 18 positioned along the edge of the first housing shell, and a first grid portion 16 a integrated into a bottom surface of the first housing shell. The first ring carve out 15 a is configured to receive a retention ring portion 14 a.

The plurality of apertures 18 are each configured to receive a corresponding mating tab 20 integrated on the second housing shell 12 b. The first housing shell may have any suitable shape, such as, for example, a spherical shape. The first housing shell may include a hollow area. The first housing shell may be made out of any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic, acrylic or metal. The first housing shell may include insulating materials to manage temperature sensitivities of the container. The first housing shell may include ornamentation on its external surface. The external ornamentation may be customized, such as, for example, a photo image. In other aspects, the ornamentation may include sport novelty décor, logos, advertisement images, etc.

The second housing shell 12 b may include a second ring carve out 15 b along its top surface, a plurality of mating tabs 20 attached to an internal surface of the second housing shell 12 b and a second grid portion 16 b integrated into a bottom surface of the second housing shell. The second ring carve out 15 b is configured to receive a retention ring portion 14 b. Each mating tab is positioned along an edge of the second housing shell at a same position as a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures in the first housing shell 12 a and is configured to attach to a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures in the first housing shell 12 a. A hook 21 is positioned at the end of each mating tab 20 which extends pass an edge of the second housing shell. Each hook 21 connects into a corresponding aperture 18 on the first housing shell.

The second housing shell may have any suitable shape, such as, for example, a spherical shape. The second housing shell may include a hollow area. The second housing shell may be made out of any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic, acrylic or metal. The second housing shell may include insulating materials to manage temperature sensitivities of the container. The second housing shell may include ornamentation on its external surface. The external ornamentation may be customized, such as, for example, a photo image. In other aspects, the ornamentation may include sport novelty décor, logos, advertisement images, etc.

The retention ring 14 may include a first portion 14 a configured for insertion in the first ring carve out 15 a and a second portion 14 b configured for insertion in the second ring carve out 15 b. The retention ring may have a cylindrical shape. The retention ring may be made from any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic or metal. The retention ring 14 may be configured for attachment to a neck region 17 of an enclosed container 13. The retention ring is configured to secure a top region of the enclosed container 13 in the container cover.

The retention grid 16 includes a first portion 16 a integrated in a bottom surface of the first housing shell 12 a and a second portion 16 b integrated in a bottom surface of the second housing shell 12 b. The retention grid includes a container receiving platform 22 and an anchor 24. The container receiving platform is formed by slots 23 a integrated in first portion 16 a and slots 23 b integrated in second portion 16 b. Each portion (16 a and 16 b) of the retention grid includes a plurality of slots 23 a and 23 b.

The container receiving platform 22 is configured to receive a bottom end of an enclosed container 13. The size of the container receiving platform 22 may have a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the enclosed container 13. The anchor 24 is formed by guards 25 a attached to the ends of slots 23 a integrated in first portion 16 a of the retention grid and guards 25 b attached to the ends of slots 23 b integrated in second portion 16 b of the retention grid. The guards (i.e., anchor guards) 25 and slots 23 form an enclosure 27 in the retention grid 16 to retain a bottom edge (or a part of the bottom edge) of an enclosed container 13. The anchor 24 secures the bottom region of the enclosed container 13 in the device 10. The retention ring 14 and the retention grid 16 collectively secure the positioning/attachment of an enclosed container 13 in/to the device 10.

In further aspects, the container cover device 10 may include a plurality of interlocks 19. Each interlock may be formed by interconnecting a mating tab 20 with a corresponding aperture 18. The container cover device may be formed by interconnecting each one of the plurality of mating tabs 20 on the second housing shell 12 b with a corresponding aperture 18 on the first housing shell 12 a. The container cover device may be disassembled by dislodging the interlocks (i.e., disconnecting the hook 21 of each mating tab 20 from its corresponding aperture 18), which effectively separates the first and second housing shells from one another. The interlocks may be dislodged by applying pressure to one or more of the interlocks. The applied pressure will disengage (i.e., unhook) the hook 21 from the aperture 18. The container cover device may be reassembled by reassembling the interlock (i.e., connecting mating tab 20 to aperture 18 by inserting the hook 21 therein).

As noted, each first housing shell 12 a and the second housing shell 12 b may be interchanged with other housing shells (i.e., a different first housing shell and second housing shell respectively). Each first housing shell 12 a includes apertures 18 for mating with a second housing shells 12 b. Each second housing shell 12 b includes mating tabs 20 to attach to a first housing shell 12 a. As such, the first and second housing shells may be interchanged with other housing shells using the interlocks 19. The first housing shell and the second housing shell forming the container cover device 10 may be interchanged with a different first housing shell and second housing shell respectively. Moreover, the first housing shell or the second housing shell forming the container cover device may be interchanged with a different first housing shell or second housing shell respectively.

The container cover device 10 may include a hollow enclosure. The container cover device is configured to receive and retain a container, such as, for example, container 13, in the hollow enclosure. The container cover device 10 is configured to receive and retain the container 13 between retention ring 14 and retention grid 16. The container cover device 10 may be made from any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic, acrylic or metal. The container cover device may include insulating materials to manage temperature sensitivities of the container. The container cover device 10 (“the device”) may be configured in any suitable shape, such as, for example, a prolate spheroid (e.g., a football shape), a sphere (e.g., a ball shape as shown in FIGS. 5-7 ), a boxing glove, etc. The device 10 and its respective housing shells (12 a, 12 b) may be configured in different sizes to house different size containers. The housing shells may have different external surface ornamentation as shown in FIGS. 5-7 . In FIGS. 5-6 the first housing shell 12 a has baseball novelty décor included on its external surface. In FIGS. 5 and 7 the second housing shell 12 b has basketball novelty décor included on its external surface.

Moreover, it should be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.)

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A customizable container cover device comprising: a first housing shell having a first ring carve out along its top surface, the first housing shell including a plurality of apertures positioned along the edge of the shell; a second housing shell having a second ring carve out along its top surface, the second housing shell having a plurality of mating tabs positioned along the edge of the shell for mating with the plurality of apertures in the first housing shell; a retention ring having a first portion configured for insertion in the first ring carve out and a second portion configured for insertion in the second ring carve out; and a retention grid having a first grid portion integrated in a bottom surface of the first housing shell and a second grid portion integrated in a bottom surface of the second housing shell; and a plurality of interlocks, wherein each interlock is formed by interconnecting a mating tab with a corresponding aperture.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the container cover is formed by interconnecting the plurality of mating tabs on the second housing shell with the plurality of apertures on an internal surface of the first housing shell.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the container cover is configured to receive and retain an enclosed container between the retention ring and the retention grid.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the retention ring is configured to secure a top region of an enclosed container in the container cover
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the retention grid is configured to secure a bottom region of an enclosed container in the container cover.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein each first and second grid portion includes a plurality of slots, and each slot includes an anchor guard.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first housing shell and the second housing shell forming the container cover may be interchanged with a different first housing shell and second housing shell.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first housing shell and the second housing shell forming the container cover may be interchanged with a different first housing shell or second housing shell.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein one end of each of the plurality of mating tabs extends pass the edge of the second housing shell.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first housing shell and the second housing shell may be separated from one another by dislodging the plurality of interlocks.
 11. The device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of interlocks may be dislodged by applying pressure to one or more of the interlocks.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing shells each include a hollow enclosure.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second housing shells are spherical shaped.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein an external surface of the first housing shell includes ornamentation.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the external surface of the second housing shell includes ornamentation. 